Four-legged "therapists" visit children in São João - SIC

The presence of a pet has numerous advantages, including therapeutic benefits. At S. João Hospitalin Porto, a project involving assistance dogs in the hospital's pediatric ward is exceeding expectations.

The project began a year ago in the hospital's pediatric ward with the aim of helping children and their families, but over time it has also proved beneficial to health professionals.

Running for a year at the Hospital de São João, this project has already exceeded the organization's expectations.

We want the hospital not to be a place of suffering, but a place of hope and a place of passage. Let this passage be made in the best possible way," argues Manuel Melo, administrator of the Pediatric Ward at Hospital de São João.

These two assistance dogs, who visit children in hospital twice a week, have been trained to work in a hospital environment.

"The dogs have to be very affable, very calm. They have to be dogs that are open to touch and seek it out," says Catarina Cascais, vice-president of the Ânimas Association.

Zazu, a two-year-old golden retriever, and Tika, a four-year-old Labrador retriever, roam the hospital's pediatric ward with the aim of bringing joy and reassurance to the children who are hospitalized.

"The benefits for children are numerous, not just emotional. It also lowers anxiety levels, significantly lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, also strengthens the immune system, so the perception of pain is also altered and everything becomes smoother," says the Institutional Relations coordinator, Sílvia Peça.

The project of pairs of assistance dogs in the Pediatric Ward of the São João Hospital is promoted by the Ânimas Association and financed by donations from individuals, companies and also through the IRS.

ÂNIMAS is the only Portuguese company accredited by Assistance Dogs International